Mikel Arteta addresses new Arsenal issue and praises squad depth after penalty shootout win | OneFootball

Conceding a late goal is fast becoming a habit for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has praised the performance of Arsenal’s fringe players following their penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was the hero for the Gunners, saving from Maxence Lacroix to seal Arsenal’s place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

The Spanish goalkeeper was one of eight changes made by Arteta, who also handed a first start in 11 months to Gabriel Jesus.

“I see it as a privilege at the end, because of the attitude of the players. I mean, they make your job a joy. We had situations where we didn't have a choice, and up front for many months we had a situation, and now we have a situation in the back line,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference.

“But it doesn't matter. We have situations like Christian (Norgaard), like Kepa, like any player that is there constantly. Whatever the role that they have on the day of training, they fulfil it.

“And then when they play, that's what they do. And every player has to have that mindset, because you're going to have a big role to play. You want to achieve what we want to achieve, and it's going to be the only way.

“So, I'm very happy that everybody that is now available is with that mindset, with that attitude. And then when they have to play, they perform like they did today.”

Mikel Arteta embraces Kepa after Arsenal’s penalty shootout win over Crystal Palace

AFP via Getty Images

Marc Guehi’s stoppage-time equaliser means Arsenal have now conceded 90th-minute goals against Palace, Wolves, and Aston Villa in the last month.

Arteta, though, is not worried about his side’s issues with conceding late in games, but said they had to make their dominance count after wasting countless opportunities against Palace.

“Yeah, well, sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition and the way they've done it, but I think the margin should have been much bigger. That should have been three or four, and then we're not worried about what happens in the last minutes,” Arteta continued.

“I think what we have to do is continue to generate the chances that we do, and conceding nothing. I don't think we conceded only one shot again.

“So, I do that, and trust the players. I mean, they showed great composure and quality in the penalty shoot-out. We had some very big, open chances today to score goals, and we didn't.

“So, trust them, keep training, and try to keep improving.”